Bell 206B-III N3195B
10 September 1989 · White Plains, Maryland, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 10 September 1989 at about 02:18 local time, a Bell 206B-III registered N3195B, operated by Maryland State Police, was involved in an accident near White Plains, Maryland, United States. 6 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 02:18
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- White Plains, Maryland, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.5902, -76.9700
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B-III
- Registration
- N3195B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Maryland State Police
- Operating rule
- Public Use
- Purpose of flight
- Public Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Cheverly → Centerville
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- BFO89FA079
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES IN THAT HE DELAYED HIS CLIMB DURING A NIGHT TAKEOFF FROM A CONFINED AREA. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE DARK NIGHT AND SURROUNDING OBSTRUCTIONS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING A NIGHT APPROACH TO A FIELD ESTABLISHED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEP'T FOR A MED-EVAC, THE PILOT WAS TOLD OF WIRES ON THE WEST SIDE & THAT ONE OF THE POLICE CARS WAS PARKED BENEATH THEM. HE CIRCLED THE AREA 3-4 TIMES FOR HAZARDS USING THE SEARCHLIGHT WHILE COMMUNICATING WITH GROUND UNITS. AFTER LOADING THE PATIENT THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED TO THE WEST ACROSS THE APRX 500-FT FIELD. WITNESSES STATED THE HELICOPTER NEVER GOT HIGHER THAN THE WIRES UNTIL IT WAS ABOUT 20 FT FROM THEM, THEN NOSE UP TO ABOUT A 45-DEG ANGLE, CLIMB OVER THE WIRES, AND DESCEND INTO THE GROUND. THE ACTING COMMANDER OF THE STATE POLICE AVIATION DIVISION STATED THAT THE USE OF MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE TAKEOFFS IS CONSIDERED MANDATORY WHEN DEPARTING LANDING SITES AT NIGHT WHERE OBSTACLES SUCH AS WIRES ARE IN THE AREA AND THE CREW HAS NEVER LANDED THERE BEFORE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Bell 206 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jan 1989 | Bell 206B III | Park City, Utah, United States | Avman Inc | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jun 1989 | Bell 206L | Abbeville, Louisiana, United States | Taylor Energy Vthe | No injuries | - |
| 10 Aug 1989 | Bell 206B | Nanuet, New York, United States | Eagle Helicopter | No injuries | - |
| 2 Nov 1989 | Bell 206L-3 | Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States | Air Methods, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 1989 | Bell 206B | Oak Grove, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jul 1989 | Bell 206L-1 | Chiefland, Florida, United States | Kenn Aire Medical Corp. | No injuries | - |
All 1,732 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-25-235 | Preston, Maryland, United States | Air AG, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-28 | Cumberland, Maryland, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Jul 1989 | Smith MINIPLANE | Cumberland, Maryland, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 May 1989 | Bell UH-1B | Oldtown, Maryland, United States | Precision Air Services, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 9 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-32-300 | Myersville, Maryland, United States | M & H Aircraft Corporation Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Jul 1989 | Bellanca 7KCAB | Berlin, Maryland, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |